What We Study

NIEHS intramural scientists have defined descriptive terms of particular relevance to their own research, and have ranked those terms accordingly. This search feature obtains best-matches with the terms you choose, and shows an overall score based on the scientific rankings.

Research

NIEHS research uses state-of-the-art science and technology to investigate the interplay between environmental exposures, human biology, genetics, and common diseases to help prevent disease and improve human health.

Environmental Stewardship

Research Highlights

The vision of the NIEHS is to use environmental health sciences to understand human disease and improve human health. Use the search box to see research highlights from NIEHS scientists since its founding in 1966.

About NIEHS

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is expanding and accelerating its contributions to scientific knowledge of human health and the environment, and to the health and well-being of people everywhere.

An NIEHS grantee and colleagues discovered that a genetic mutation involved in DNA repair leads to lupus in mice. Their new mouse model of lupus could provide insight into the environmental mechanisms of the disease and, potentially, other autoimmune diseases.

The lack of an animal model has hindered the investigations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which causes widespread inflammation in internal organs, joints, and the nervous system. Genome-wide association studies have suggested that a mutation in the gene coding for DNA polymerase beta is involved in SLE. DNA polymerase beta is a key enzyme in the genome integrity process of base excision repair, which defends cells and organisms against direct insults to DNA.

To determine if decreased DNA polymerase beta activity results in SLE, the researchers genetically engineered mice to express lower amounts of the enzyme. The mutant mice developed lupus-like disease and shorter antibody heavy-chain junctions. They also showed dramatically increased levels of somatic hypermutation, a process by which the immune system adapts to new foreign elements. The researchers say that their findings suggest that mutations in DNA repair genes associated with immunological processes could lead to the development of autoimmune disease, including SLE.